The Healthy Church - Our Report

OPEN - Manila folder, report inside, as doctor approaches patient room...

(look over report, while doc is talking, blah, blah....)

OBJECTIVE vs SUBJECTIVE Truth

2 Corinthians 10:12 NASB95

For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

- Don’t compare among others

2 Corinthians 10:12 NASB95

For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.

- Don’t compare among others

Philippians 2:6 NASB95

who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

Philippians 2:4–5 NASB95

do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

- Compare self to Christ, have this mindset

Doctor’s reports can be both objective and subjective

(Pediatrics, especially, percentile, etc.) - I want objective truth, tell me how it is!

The Picture of our Health

Truth often takes a back seat to comfort, especially in church

God’s Ideals, Goals, His Will

Parameter Normal Result

Saved

Baptized/Communing

Fellowship

Sharing Christ

Identify w/ Christ

Teaching/Discipleship ;

Family

Giving

Worship

Service

Prayer ,

God’s Word

Getting Back to (or starting with) Basics

Objective Truth, from God’s Word:

Bible - how God speaks

Personal?

Corporate? - SS, A.M. service, Awana, Tues, Wed., Fri. - God’s Word is important here

Prayer - it is clear God uses prayer to impact lives of believers (or it should be)

Personal?

Corporate? - we have room to grow

Church (activity)

Hebrews 10:25 NASB95

not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

- be there, don’t forsake gathering

- be there, don’t forsake gathering

Decide whether or not it’s important

This church needs people committed to being here, to be used, to get God’s work done - THAT’s HIS WILL, we need to understand that!

Where Do I Start?

HEALTH BASICS -

Diet, Sleep, Exercise

(Much counseling starts with these, too, phys, and spiritual health are linked ()

SPIRITUAL BASICS

Word, Prayer, Church

So we decide: Word or not, Prayer or not, Church or not

(not=something else)

Put Off/Put On

Ephesians 4 NASB95

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, And He gave gifts to men.” (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

- takes choice, decision, purpose

Some things have to come

Some things have to go

Starts With SHOWING UP

Can’t get the Word if you don’t open it up

Can’t pray is you don’t start praying

Can’t serve and help the church if you are not here

(not important to most - don’t care, or find little of value here)

John 6:60 NASB95

Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?”

But somebody else will get it done

Really?

Maybe someone here needs YOU to get it done!

Healthy church has all parts working

Who surrounds you?

Easier to eat healthy, exercise, in a group, when others support you

We like to support others who want better health

Who are you around?

Others who want to grow

Others who don’t care

“Christians” who never talk about God?”

, etc.

Not the “perfect” church (though we point there often)

BUT…they were healthy

Problems, Concerns

ALL IN AWE of God and His work!

What He had done

What He is doing

The hope of what is yet to come (What He WILL do!)